From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Prepositional phrase
[edit]in ruins
- (literally) Of a building or structure, mostly destroyed.
1953 June, C. E. N. Watts, “Railway Through Lapland”, in Railway Magazine, page 384:The line ends at Narvik. Eight years ago the whole town was in ruins, but the industry of the Norwegian people has rebuilt it entirely.
- (figuratively) Of a person, attribute, relationship, etc., totally damaged or spoiled.
After being found guilty of animal abuse, her reputation was in ruins.
His finances were in ruins after spending all his inheritance on cars and drugs.
